Saturday Update – 16th September 2023
A complete turnaround in the weather this week to what we are more accustomed to for Manx hockey, and our Vikings teams facing some tough opponents this week.
The A team continued their strong start to the season with a 5-0 win over Ramsey A.
The 5 goals evenly shared across 5 vikings players with Kim Carney, Darryl Jago, Dominic Hubble, Will Bridson, and Neil Crowe with a penalty flick all picking up a goal apiece.
A good game of hockey with Ramsey having some good breaks, some nice skills on show and plenty of good saves from Richard Spleight in the Ramsey goal, but it opened up for Vikings in the second half.
Our A team still keeping pace with league leaders Bacchas A and only in second by virtue of goal difference.
Valkyrs A were the tough opponents for our B team this week and the result ended in a 3-0 win for the Peel team.
Special mention to Sam Spooner in the Vikings goal who put in a sterling performance drawing praise from the Valkyrs players.
Unfortunately our C team again came up against strong opposition in Castletown Southerners who are tipped to be one of two title contenders this season for Division 1.
A very competitive game of hockey, but unfortunately Vikings not making their chances count when they were in the D, but another great goalkeeping performance from Tom Babb making many fantastic saves for Vikings.
The Mixed D team again continued their great start to the season with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Ramsey Ravens. The D team being ahead within the first two minutes of the match after good work in the D from Rachel Ward leaving Blae Cain to hammer home the first goal.
Further goals coming from short corners from Adam Braidwood and Ian Perry, with Andy Harding adding to the mix and a brace from Ben Dougal.
One of Ben Dougal’s goals already a contender for goal of the season, after working it to the far left back corner of the D, Ben proceeded to tomahawk the ball and fired it at an acute angle into the top right corner of the goal, much to the amazement of many on the pitch, with many Vikings A players watching from the sidelines claiming it to be one of the best goals they had seen in Manx hockey…!
Our Mixed E team faced the Bacchas Colts team that matched up to our D team last week, but they were unable to get any points in this one.
The Bacchas team put in a strong performance with the E team being on the backfoot for much of the game, but putting in a good defensive performance but some unlucky breaks leading to Colts taking a 4-0 win from this match.
Finally the U15s team took to the pitch with some new players coming in for their first ever match on a full pitch, and whilst the scoreline ended 12-1 to Sabres, the U15s never gave up battling and signs of the new players starting to improve their team play and work well with each other.
Sabres having a number of island players in their team showing their experience, and working the ball well to move from a 3-0 half time scoreline to finish 12-1.
Henry Stewart of Vikings took his goal very well after a good interception in midfield from Theo Hampson, who then slotted the ball through for Henry to finish calmly past the Sabres keeper.
Here’s to next weekend Vikings !
